Main points to establishing & organizing an argument

• Organization in writing is important for the fact: we want the reader to understand it

• We want the information to be clear, easy to follow, and the reader to not keep questioning what they are reading

• In arguments this is important, because it is easy to jump around from point to point –which only makes sense in the writers head

Method

• The Toulmin Method of logic is a common organizational method to use when organizing an argument

• The writer first needs to establish their argument with themselves before they write

• This follows with the Toulmin Method’s first point: a thesis the writer will argue

Claim your thesis

• Exactly what the argument is and what the writer will be arguing about should be in a thesis

Example: Apples are beneficial to humans, because they prevent a lot of health issues

Next

Evidence of data

• Gather evidence to prove your argument and thesis

• An example would be everything beneficial in apples and what kind of health issues they prevent

• Also, compare an opposing food like sugar. Compare how eating apples opposed to sugary things is better

Backing it up more

• Here more information and explaining your information can help. Show the reader where you got the information, compare and contrast, and explain more statistics

Support your claims/thesis

• Now include a warrant or bridge which explains why or how your data backs up your claim

An example would be showing your research on apples and helping prevent health issues. Like, statistics on the rates of heart disease when people ate apples instead of drinking soda

Counterclaim

• A counterclaim does disagree with your argument, but in a good way

• If the writer is talking about apples and health benefits then an example would be bring up eating more vegetables than fruit, because fruit does have a lot of natural sugar

• This does not steer away from the thesis, but adds to it positively

Rebuttal

• This part is evidence that a writers counterclaim disagrees with

• An example would be any amount of fruit is perfectly healthy and it is better than eating junk food.

• Also, fruit still does have a lot of health benefits even though the high amount of natural sugar

Establishing the Argument

• Find a topic that you have a very narrow, tight, and specific focus on

A topic very broad is where confusion and little organization happens

• A topic that is debatable is a good one

• Apples are good for your health.

• Yes, but too broad

• Apples are beneficial to humans, because they prevent a lot of health issues

• The thesis is good, itcanbe debated against other foods that people eat and preventing health issues and it is narrow

Last

• It is not easy sometimes to organize a paper, but if the writer knows their topic and what they want to argue then it should be easier to organize

• With that being said the writer has to take time organizing where everything is going to go exactly or it will be confusing

Sources

• Purdue Online Writing Lab. Developing Strong Thesis Statements . 25 February 2013. 3 April 2013. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/01/

• Organizing Your Argument. 11 March 20103 .3 April 2013 <http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/572/03/>.